Nile Gardiner is a Washington-based foreign affairs analyst and political commentator. A former aide to Margaret Thatcher, Gardiner has served as a foreign policy adviser to two US presidential campaigns. He appears frequently on American and British television, including Fox News Channel, BBC, and Fox Business Network.

Labour must disown John McDonnell’s sickening attack on Lady Thatcher

Labour leadership contender John McDonnell’s comments on Margaret Thatcher are a sickening disgrace, and a stain on his party. In a leadership debate today, McDonnell stated that if he could return to the ‘80’s he would “assassinate Thatcher”.

John McDonnell says he was on the GLC – and that if he could go back in time and do one thing, he would visit the 1980s and "assassinate Thatcher".

I have had the honour of working for Margaret Thatcher, and, like anyone who has had that privilege, knows that she has dedicated her life to serving her country. The political attacks that continue to rain down upon her, nearly 20 years after she left office, are a testament to the great achievements of her leadership. McDonnell’s threatening words however, are simply beyond the pale, and represent a new low in British political debate.

I hope that McDonnell will have the decency to apologise to Lady Thatcher for his disgusting, undignified and menacing words. Labour should also swiftly and unequivocally disown and condemn McDonnell’s remarks.